Hezekiah Walker thrills Fun in the Son

GRAMMY award-winning gospel artiste Hezekiah Walker stole the show at Saturday's Best Dressed Fun in the Son, with a masterful performance that even saw other artistes singing along.

It was held in Portmore, St Catherine.

"I'm happy to be here Jamaica. I almost didn't make it as our first flight was cancelled and our second was delayed," he told the awaiting throng.

His entrance was preceded by a harmony sung by his 12 back-up singers who had the crowd going wild. From the second he hit the stage, the sparkle sneaker-shod singer had the audience in the palm of his hands with his 2008 hit Souled Out. He only paused for a moment between his other songs, Faithful Is Our God and God Favoured Me to do a bit of ministering. Once back into his sonic groove, he closed out his set with what the mass of fans wanted -- the song Every Praise.

Walker's routine came on the heels of a night already peppered with a host of excellent performances by local gospel heavyweights, Carlene Davis, Goddy Goddy, and Jermaine Edwards. However, ultimately it was the bookend acts around Walker, of Kevin Downswell and Papa San that had just enough extra to stand out.

Downswell was the lead-in act and sealed his command of the patrons when he brought out Ryan Mark followed by Miriam Levy, his mother, for well-received duets.

Papa San was left to fill the space of Walker's exit, which he did admirably an indication the crowd was once again ready for a local flavour.

Now in its 12th year, Best Dressed Fun in the Son received high marks from organiser Glory Music's Tommy Cowan.

"This year was amazing. The battle to stage the show gets harder every year, but the victory of consistently delivering makes victory even sweeter," he told the Jamaica Observer.

When questioned on the future, he said that is something to be guided by the partnership with Jamaica Broilers, owners of the Best Dressed brand.

Christopher Levy, president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Broilers Group, concurred with Cowan.

"This is the best one so far,"
he said.

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